Chapter 4: Darryl's Woes

A/N: I didn't get as many reviews as I had hoped for, but I really enjoy writing this story, so I'm gonna keep updating. I finally know exactly where this is going, and it's gonna be long. I do not own Charmed. Read and Review! Enjoy!

It was another late night at the station house for Inspector Darryl Morris. For once, his wife Sheila wasn't angry in the slightest. What had angered her to no end in the past was his constant involvement with the Halliwell sisters. Those women meant nothing but trouble. He could scarcely count the number of times he had risked his career to protect their secret. Darryl had been too glad to do it at the time. What those women did was for the good of humanity, he had to admit. It was only recently that he had stopped helping them. The last time he had helped them, it had almost cost him his life. That time things had gone a little too far.

He had been lucky as of late. Recently he hadn't been involved in any cases where the Halliwell sisters were present. With them out of the picture, his solve rate had gone up considerably. His bosses trusted him more, causing his career to improve all around. His career was not the only thing that had improved. Now that he was living the "normal life" as Sheila had put it, a lot of the passion had returned to his marriage. He had regained his wife's trust, something he had been steadily loosing since he discovered what the Halliwell sisters really were. He had forbidden himself to even speak to the Halliwells. It caused far too much trouble, as far as Sheila was concerned.

The sharp ring of the phone jolted him from his thoughts. He needed to be awake now. One glance at the caller ID told him that it was his captain who was calling. He had a new case to solve. 'Please let this not involve the Halliwells', he thought as he picked up the phone.

"Morris", he answered sharply. He listened as the captain told him the details of his latest mission. He nodded and took notes; when he was listening to his captain speak. His face grew grave as he took in the details of his latest mission. He was grabbing his jacket, and almost out the door before the captain could finish. "Yes sir, I'll be right there with backup sir", Darryl said as he hastily put the phone away. His adrenaline began to pump as he realized what he had to do. From what he gathered, he would have to do some crowd control, all the while solving a murder. This wouldn't be easy.

He hastily slammed the door behind him and made briskly made his way to the parking lot. Getting into his car, he began to drive. He was close to breaking the speed limits. It was true that he was in a hurry, but who could blame him? He knew he was going to have a situation on his hands.

Half a dozen police cars pulled onto the grass at Golden Gate Park. People were running in different directions. It was sheer and utter chaos. The cops in the cars had no choice but to get out and do some crowd control. They had very limited success in trying to ask people to leave in a calm and orderly fashion. Darryl arrived in an unmarked vehicle behind all the rest. Instead of into the crowd, he headed for the place the crowd avoided. At least, nearly all the crowd avoided that place. He could already see 4 people there, and one of them was pushing a stroller. Darryl had a sneaking suspicion that he already knew who those people were.

The presence of the Charmed Ones in that area only confirmed his suspicion that it was there that the real action was. He got out of his car, and new in an instant what the crowd was running from. He saw the body. Judging by how mangled the corpse really was, and by the presence of the Charmed Ones, he reasonably concluded that a demon had committed this murder. No matter what suspicions he had, he would never entertain them. To maintain all he had worked for, he had to treat this like any other case.

"Care to tell me what you're doing here?" he asked the moment he reached the Charmed Ones' side. He would never forget what they had cost him.

It appeared that the Charmed Ones as well had not forgotten. Piper said rather angrily, "You know what we're doing here, Darryl."

He ignored the coldness, and opened up his black notebook to an empty page. "I'll say that again", he said calmly, "Tell me what you are doing here." He began to take down their statements. The Charmed Ones and Leo told the truth…mostly. Actually, the only part they left out was the fact that Phoebe had felt the man's death. Instead, they said that they heard screaming, and being the good Samaritans that they are, they came to investigate. As Darryl took down there explanation, he realized that it sounded not only possible, but plausible. He knew it wasn't the truth, but no other officer would know that.

"Want to tell me why you're really here?" Darryl asked in an undertone.

Paige actually seemed to be considering him for a while. Then she looked at him an said, "No."

Nothing more was said for the all heard screams and gunshots coming from a few feet behind them. Advancing through the darkness was an immense form. When it got closer, they all saw that it was a demon. He was advancing towards the police; their bullets having no affect whatsoever. The hideous creature wearing a cloak as dark as night was making his way through the SFPD. He swiped the officers to the side with a casual sweep of his clawed hand. Darryl tried shooting at it, but of course there was no effect.

"A little help here?" Darryl asked, struggling to get out of the demon's way.

The Charmed Ones hesitated for only a moment. This was the man who refused, point blank, to do them the smallest of favors. Why help him? The instinct to stand back and do nothing was quickly quashed. They were protectors of the innocent. It was their job to help those in need, no matter their personal faults. Looking thoroughly irritated, Piper raised her hands and froze every single person in the area. The demon continued moving. The Charmed Ones knew what they had to do.

TBC...